Pump drive mechanism



Apnl 28, 1953 s. c. CARTER 2,636,391

PUMP DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 17, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY I I ATTORNE YS.

A ril 28, 1953 s. c. CARTER 2,635,391

PUMP DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 17. 1949 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EXHAUST INVENTOR.

6. Cam \1 k ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1953 s. c. CARTER I PUMP DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 17. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 91 lNVENTOR.

Macaw/v fi ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 28 1953 PUMP DRIVE MECHANISM Samuel 0. Carter, Glendale, Calif., assignor to S. 0. Carter 00. Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporationof California Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,313

13 Claims.

' My invention comprises a pumping mechanism and more specifically, a device for connecting a power unit, such as an electric motor or other prime mover, to the sucker rods of an oil well to actuate the same.

In general, my invention comprises a combination of a rackmember supported by two rack gears which are positively driven by a prime mover through a clutch to lift the rack member which is attached to some form of dash pot and from that dash pot to the sucker rods.

, In the upward stroke the rack member is positively driven by the rack gears. At the top of the stroke the clutch is declutched, allowing the rack member to fall of its own weight and that of the sucker rods until it comes near the bottom of its stroke, wherein the dash pot absorbs that stroke and gives a slight rebound which energizes a mechanism which reengages the clutch so that at the top of the bounce the rack member will be in positive engagement with the prime mover and continue the movement upward. By the use of thi construction, normal shock at the bottom of the stroke is absorbed and made to act for useful purposes, thus lengthening the life of the entire apparatus and cutting down on the amount of power necessary to drive the same.

' It is desirable to control the rate of speed of the descent of the pumping mechanism and this speed should be substantially the maximum permissible so as to get as many upward strokes per period of time as possible. However, this speed cannot exceed certain limits and to control this speed a cylinder is positioned at the lower end of my pumping mechanism with a piston therein connected to the sucker rods. This cylinder is ported intermediate the strok of the piston to a large container of compressed air and by controlling the pressure in this container the rate of fall of the piston in the cylinder is controlled. When however the piston passes the port the cylinder then becomes the dash pot above set forth.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the preferred em-' bodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my pumping mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is asectional view takenon the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional, View of a detail.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, partially in I ance with my invention comprises a barrel I which is bolted at 2 to the top of the tubing head 3. Upon the upper end of the barrel l is attached a casing 4 carrying bearings 5 and 6 (see Figure 3), for rotatively positioning a shaft 1. Upon the shaft '1 is a gear 8 driven by a worm gear 9 on a shaft ID. The shaft it] has a pulley H to which is connected by means of belting [2 a prime mover l3. The prime mover l3 thus transmits power to rotate the shaft 1.

Upon the top of the casing i is mounted a rack gear housing [4 and upon the top of that a housing l5 having a clutch member generally indicated at {6.

A sleeve I! mounted to rotate upon the shaft '1 is adapted to be directly driven by the shaft 1 when the clutching mechanism indicated at it is engaged. Any type of clutching mechanism can be used and is not part of my invention other than that some type of clutching mechanism to engage or disengage the sleeve i! from the shaft 1 is necessary.

Upon the sleeve I! are mounted the rack gears iii. A secondary shaft l9, journaled in the bearings 20 and 2i, is carried by the housing [4 and carries thereon a rack gear 22. The sleeve ll carries a pinion gear 23 which engages a similar gear 2 1 on the secondary shaft H? to rotate the same and drive the rack gear 22 in the opposite direction from the rack gear 18.

Mounted between the rack gears I8 and 22 is a rack 25 which carries a rod 26 at its lower end. Attached to the rod 26 by means of thepin 21 is a piston 28 slidable in the barrel I. The piston 28 has a series of piston rings 29 to insure sealing the barrel 1. The piston 28 has its interior formed as a cylinder 30 in which is slidably mounted a sucker rod piston 3 I, to which a sucker rod 32 is attached. Between the end 33 of the cylinder 30 and the sucker rod piston 3| is positioned a rubber cushion 34. v On the upper end of'the rack 25 is bolted a hanger 35 upon which is adjustably mounted a ratchet 36. A valve 31 is mounted on a housing l4 and has attached to the valve shaft 38 a crank arm 39.

Guides 10 are carried by a bracket H to slidably mount a push rod 12. The push rod 12 has an arm 13 connected by a link 14 with the crank arm 39. Rotatively attached to the bracket H is a ratchet 15 adapted to engage'the enlarged 3 cap 16 on the end of the push rod 72. Rotatively mounted upon the pivot pin T! is a spring-loaded pawl it adapted to engage the ratchet 35. A spring it tends to move the ratchet 15 into engagement with the cap it. A spring 89 tends to draw the push rod 12 downwardly.

The clutch it can be operated by compressed air. To actuatethis clutch it, the valve 3? has a port d9 connected by an air line 86 to a source of compressed air, such as the air pump 85, actuated by movement of the rack 25. The port is connected to the clutch actuating means and when the valve passage :22 is aligned between the ports ill and ll positive pressure engages the clutch, allowing the prime mover l 3 to raiseth e of the push rod 12, lifting the same andby the motion of the link it and crank arm 39- rotates the valve shaft aligning the exhaust port 55 with the port ii, allowing the compressed air to exhaust through the valve passage 48 and exhaust portJlS. At the top of the upward stroke the cap it engages the ratchet i and is held in this position as the down strokeis made. At the bottom of the down stroke the ratchet 35 ngages the pawl l8 and when a rebound of the mechanism results the ratchet 36 rotates the pawl 13, causing a projection 33 thereon to rotate the ratchet i5 and disengage the cap it, permitting the spring 80 to lower the push rod and to rotate the valve arm 38, realigning the ports it, l! and the valve passage 52 to reengage the clutch l6.

A feature of my inventionis that the upward stroke is by positive drive but the downward stroke is by gravity controlled by the air pressure in a cylinder or main air supply container it!) of suitable size to prevent any substantial rise in pressurein the chamber 52/ At the lower limits of the stroke the shock will be partially absorbed by the rubber cushion 3d acting between the piston 3i and the bottom of the piston 23. The remainder of the shock will be absorbed by the compressed air in the barrel I. The barrel l is pressurized means of the pressure line Bil connected to a source of compressed air. When the bottom of the piston28 passes the port 68a. it will further compress the air in the barrel 1 until the entire weight of the mechanism and the sucker rods will be supported thereby.

A recoil, however, willresult and the sucker rods and rack will bounce upwardly until the ratchet 3-8 engages the pawl 13:, rotating it and releasing the push rod l2 and rotating the valve ill, thus engaging the clutch and causing the prime mover to again lift therack 25 and sucker rod 32.

in the modification of myinvention shown in Figure 6 the rubber cushion 34 is dispensed with and merely an air cushion formed in the cylinder 3E3 is used to absorb the shoc k at the bottom of. the stroke. However, to aid the air cushion to absorb the shock a valve 59, whichis normally closed during the downward movement of the piston 3!, will be open during. the descending of the piston 28in the barrel i as the air in the chamber ill will forcethe valve5l] open, per- Knitting a surge ofair into the cylinder 38. When the piston 23 descends to the. lowermost position, the piston? willstart to descend in'the cylinder 3 0,,forcing the .valvefil} shut and the air compressed'in the cylinder 313, will act as acushsnihfsm cib ralso will regulate the length and rate of drop after the closing of the port 880..

Another modification of my invention comprises connecting a line 5!} to the chamber 5|.

The line 85 is connected to the port 61 in the chamber Ell. On the up stroke the port Bl is connected tothe exhaust port 35 by the valve passage 46 and thus any back pressure on the piston 28 is relieved. Upon the down stroke the line connected thereto in a pivotal manner.

68 is connected by means of the ports 61 and 40 andvalve passage 52 t0 the container 100 to build uppressure in the chamber 51 andin the cylinders 39, and 52.

As the barrel l forms the main mounting for my entire pumping mechanism, it is bolted as shown at to the top of the casing head 9! in an airtight manner. I have found it desirable that the gears, gears motor and clutches be Therefore, the barrel 1 is connected to the housing 4' by means of the pins 92 and 93 respectively.

WhileI have described the preferred embodiments of my invention, Iain notlimited to any of the details herein described except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft. driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position,.means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottomof its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft,

2. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling"means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby, said rack will fall to its lowest position, meansconnectedto said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said racl; rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to e ga e said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to. said rack, abarrel in which said piston isladapted to slide said piston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to move in said cylinder and connected toa reciprocating rod. andshock absorbing meansin said last mentioned piston.

3. In a pumping mechanism, a ,sh a;,ft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to said rack, a barrel in which said piston is adapted to slide, said piston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to movein said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod, and a rubber cushion in said cylinder to absorb shock.

4. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch controlling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to said rack, an airtight barrel in which said piston is adapted to slide, said piston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to move in said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod, a valve between said barrel and said cylinder adapted to open when the pressure in said barrel is greater than in said cylinder.

5. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutchcontrolling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to said rack, an airtight barrel in which said piston is adapted to slide, said piston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to move in said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod, a valve between said barrel and said cylinder adapted to open when the pressure in said barrel is greater than in said cylinder, and an adjustable secondary cylinder to control the pressure in said barrel.

6. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve. rack gears driven by said sleeve,

a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutchcontrolling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and-to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a,

piston connected to said rack, an airtight barrel in which said piston is adapted to slide, saidpiston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to move in said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod, avalve between saidv barrel and-said cylinder adaptedto open when the pressure in said barrel is greater than in said cylinder, and a secondary pumping mechanism attached to said rack to deliver air pressure'to said barrel.

7. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, and an air controlled shock absorbing means to stop and rebound said rack.

8. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect-said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said rack rebounds at the bottom of its stroke to engage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to said rack, a barrel in which said piston is adapted to slide, said piston having a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted to move in said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod, and shock-absorbing means in said piston, said cylinder containing air under pressure to stop the fall of said piston.

9. In a pumping mechanism, a shaft driven by a prime mover, a, sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling means at substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-concaresses:

trolling-: mechanism: when x-saidsrack rebounds. at the bottom of -its=stroke.to engage-saidiclutchiand to connect-saidsleeve and-said shaft, piston connected to said, rack, a -barrel in which said piston is adapted to:slide,: saidpistonhavingi a cylinder formed therein, a-piston;adaptedto. move in said cylinder, and-connectedfzto areciprocating rod, shock-absorbing means in said piston, said cylinder containing air underipressureto stop the fall of saidpiston, and anadiust'ablezaccumus latorconnected to said-"cylinder to determine :the rateof drop of saidlcylinder. and to limit its downward stroke,

10'. In a=pumping mechanism, ashaft'driveniby aprime mover, a sleeve rotatablyx mountedcupon said shaft,- a clutch mechanism-adapted to connect said shaft and i said 7 sleeve. to rotatablysdrive said sleeve, rack gears: driven ..by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adaptedito be movedlby said-L rack: gears; aclutch-controlling. means, ratchet means connected to said: rack to actuate saidclutch-controlling:meansat-substantiallythe upper limits-of, the movement of said rackto declutchtsaid sleeve and saidishait whereby said rack will fall to its-lowestpcsition, means connected to 1 said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanismwhen said rack rebounds at the bottmmofitsstroke :to engage :said clutch and to: connect-said. sleeve and said shaft, a piston connected to saidrack, abarrel in which: said piston is-nadapted' to slide; said piston having: a cylinder formed-therein, ai-piston adapted-to'move in said-cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod; and shock-absorbingameans insaid piston, said: :c'lutch -.mechanism1v being pivotally mounted upon said :barrel.

11; In: a pumpng mechanism, ashaft driven by axprime: mover, a sleeve. rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a clutch mechanismadapted to connect; saidshaftand said isleevezto rotatably drive saidsleeve, rack gears driven bysaid sleeve, aivertically mounted. rack adapted to be moved by. said. rack gears, a clutch-rcontrolling means, ratchet means connected to. said rack to actuate said clutchecontrollingmeans at substantially the upper-limits zofitheinovement of said rack :to deolutclnsaid sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack; will. fail to, its lowest. position, mean connectedto. said 'acla to actuate said clutch-controllinapmechanism .whensaid rack rebounds at the :bottomof. itsstrcke :to engage. said clutch and toz-connechsaidsleeveand saidzshaft, a piston connectedhtousaid-rach, a barrel in: which said pistondsiadapted to-slide; said pistonnhaving a cylinder, formed thereima piston adapted to move in ,said cylinder and connected to a reciprocating rod-wand shockabsorbingmeans in said. piston, said. ,cylinder containin air under; pressure-.130 siiOp the fall, of.,said.:piston, saidaclutch mechaa nism being pivotally mounted. .upon said barrel:

12:: In" a. pumping mechanism, a. shaitdriven by: aprime mover, asleeve rotatably mounted upon said-shaft, aiclutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and: said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack'gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch-controlling means, ratchet means connected-to said rack to actuate saidclutch-controlling meansat substantially the upper limits of the movement of said rack to de clutch saidsleeve and said shaft whereby said rack Will'fall to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to-actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said-rack rebounds at the bottom of its-stroke toengage said clutch and to connect said sleeve and'said shaft, a piston connected to said rack, a barrel in which said piston-is adaptedto slide, said-piston having'a cylinder formed therein, a piston adapted'to move in said cylinder andconnected to a reciprocating rod, shock-absorbing means in said piston, said cylinder containing air under pressure to stop the fall of said pistomand an adjustable accumulator connected to said cylinder to determine-the rate of drop of said cylinder and {to limit its down ward stroke, said clutch mechanism being pivotaily mounted upon saidbarrel.

13. In a pumping mech'anism; a shaft' driven by a prime mover, a sleeve rotatably mountedupon shaft; a clutch mechanism adapted to connect said shaft and said sleeve to rotatably drive said sleeve, rack gears driven by said sleeve, a vertically mounted rack adapted-to be moved by said rack gears, a clutch controlling means, ratchet means connected to said-rack to actuate said clutch controlling means at substantially the upper iiniits of the movement of said rack to declutch said sleeve and said shaft whereby said rack will fail to its lowest position, means connected to said rack to actuate said clutch-controlling mechanism when said rack-'rebounds'at the bottom of its stroketo engagesaidclutch and to connect said sleeve and said shaft, said rack being connected to a piston, an airtight cylinder in which said piston-'reciprocates, said piston being connected to a reciprccatim; rod, and an air container containing air under pres sure connected'to said cylinder by a port interme: diate the stroke of said piston;

SAMUEL C." CARTER.

References Cited 5 in thesffle of i this patent UNITEDST'ATES PATENTS Number Name Date,

1,322,470. Schenk Nov. 18a. 1919 1,438,492 J0hnson' Dec. 12, 1922 1,676,163: Schlachter July:3,;. 19 28 

